Planned Parenthood Supporters at a Recent Rally in Portland.
One of Numerous Signs at the NO KINGS DAY Rally in June Calling Out Collins for Doing Notdhing to Stand up to Trump Authoriatism.
US Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) today ignored pleas and concerns from more than 20 Maine-based organizations and voted to confirm Joshua Dunlap to a lifetime appointment in the US First Circuit Court of Appeals.
Dunlap, who was nominated by President Donald Trump and introduced in the Senate by Collins, has a long and public record of opposing reproductive freedom, marriage equality, economic and climate justice, separation of church and state and the will of Maine voters.
Collins joined 52 Republiclan colleagues in a 52 to 46 vote to confirm Dunlap’s lifetime appointment. Senator Angus King (I-ME), opposed.
Dunlap is one of multiple anti-reproductive rights Trump-appointed federal judge Collins has voted to confirm this year alone. In July, for example, she joined Republilcans in a party-line vote to confirm Joshua Divine, a self-proclaimed “zealot” for the anti-abortion movement, for a lifetime appointment to the US District Court for the Eastern District and Western District of Missouri.
In October, Collns again joined her Republican colleagues in a party-line vote to confirm anti-abortion advocate Jennifer Mascott to a lifetime appointdment on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Mascott celebrated the US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 and has filed amicus briefs cases that seek to restrict access to medication abortion and that sought to shield deceptive crisis pregnanacy centers from accountability. Mascott has served as a volunteer board member for a “pro-life pregnancy center” or crisis center.
“There’s a pattern here that should alarm anyone who values impartial arbiters as key to a healthy democracy. With today’s vote, Senator Collins sent a message to Mainers and to all Americans: She will ignore pleas and valid concerns from her constituents to join her Republcan colleagues and their anti-abortion platform in confirming judges with alarming records that threaten Mainers’ and all Americans’ basic rights and freedom,” said Lisa Margulies, VP of Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. “Right now in this country and in this state people are losing access to life-saving health care. Because of attacks from elected offcials at state and federal levels, to reproductive health care is at risk. During this turbulent and uncertain time, it is more essential than ever that the courts serve as a neutral arbiter, and that they represent our communities and values. This vote by Senator Collins betrays Maine values and jeopardizes our reproductive rights and access to health care,” her statement concluded.
“Senator Collins quacks like a duck. She votes like a Republican. “Which is she – a duck or a Republican?” says this proud to be a Left Wing Lunatic. “It’s past time for her to go anyway.”